Improvement in sewing-machine guides



J.- A. WAGENER.

Sewing Machine Guide.

No.- 38.705. I V Patented May 26, -1863.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

QJEPTHA A. WAGENER, or PULTNEY, new YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN SEWING-MACHINE GUIDES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,705, dated May :26, 1863.

To all whom it may concern: V

Be it known that I, JEPTHA A. WAGENER, of Pultney, in the county of Steuben, in the State of New York, have invented a new and reference marked thereon, like letters indicating the same parts in the several figures.

The object of my invention is the production of a sewing-machine guide in a cheap and expeditious manner, and which shall be so formed from a single piece of sheet-metal plate as to afford proper bearings for the connection therewith and retention in place of a spring or springs and a back or guide bar requisite to enable the guide when complete to perform the desired functions of such an implement.

Figure 1 is a perspective'view of a blank from which to make a sewing-machine guide to avoid the necessity of basting, the same being represented in the form desired as cut from a piece of sheet metal with a properlyoonstructed die for suchpurpose. Fig. 2 is a like view of the blank shown in Fig. 1, but with one portion of it. manipulated into the proper condition to receive and have attached thereto a back or guide bar and one or more springs, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a like view of the configuration shown in Fig. 2 with a. back or guide bar attached; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my implement complete, the guide-bar and a single spring being attached thereto, as indicated.

The plate represented in Fig. 1 is stamped out of a piece of sheet metal by suitable machinery adapted to the purpose. The elongated portion a of this plate has an oblong slot, 1), through it, through which passes the neck of a thumb-screw, that is used to confine the guide down on the bed of asewing-machinc, and which allowsit to be adjusted and set in any desired positiouwith relation to the needle. The oblique portion 0 allows the main supporting-shielddtobe setataproperdistance from the needle of a narrow-bed sewing-machine, and at the same time be supported wholly upon said bed. The extended'narrow strip d is made of sutiicient length to form an open throat, 0, (shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) a support for one or more flat springs,f, and also a shoulder, g, to which the perpendicular guideplate It is secured when this strip'dis manipulated into the form shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows my improved sewing-machine guide in its second stage toward completion, with the strip of metal at bent upward, form ing the perpendicular shoulder g for support ing the guide-piece h, and then at right angles to this shoulder g, forming asupport for the flat pressure-springf, which is shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 3 I represent the third stage of the plate of Fig. 1 and show the guide-plate happlied, which is done by brazing this plate to the shoulder g of the strip (1, and also to the shield d, in a position parallel to the edge 7 and at right angles to the overhanging strip (1. This guide-plate, as its name implies, is used for gaging and guiding the work to the needle of the sewing-machine.

Fig. 4 shows the machine complete,with the spring f soldered or brazed to the bottom of the overhanging plate d and extending forward to the opposite edge of the shield-plate d. This spring on springs, as the case may he, serves the purpose of keeping the'th-icknesses of fabric together, smoothing and presenting the same properly to the needle as the feeding device of the sewingmachine draws the fabric under the spring, and, being made very elastic, this spring will yield and accommodate itself to folds of cloth varying in thickness and still perform the functions described.

From the above description of the method of constructing my improved guide it will be seen that I use only three pieces to form the same, the principal one of which is so shaped thatit can be manipulated into the proper condition to receive and have attached to it a back or guide plate, It, and one or more springs,f; and While the strip d serves as a stiff lateral sup port for the spring f, and also the guide-plate h, it also forms, in conjunction with the back edge of the shield d, the throat e of the machine. By making the strip 61' and the main portion of the plate in one piece, as described, the machines are very much simplified and at the same time the main portion or shield d oftheshieldd,as shown in Fig.4; and this spring their cost of manufacture reduced. A much better and a more finished joint can be made than could be done by brazing on a separate piece. The obliquity of the portion callows the slotted portion a to be secured down to the bed of a very narrow bed sewing-machine, keeping of the guide upon the bed and ate proper distance from the needle to allow of the inspection of the work. The springf, being secured to the stifi' overhanging stripd, inclines downward andimpinges atitsotherend upon theedge perfect freedom to accommodate itself to the fabric inserted under it. The spring exerts its pressure upon the fabric at its very edge, so I that behind this edge space islet't for the manipulation of the fabric into the required folds as it is drawn up to the needle of the sewingmachine.

Another very important advantage which I secure in the construction of my improved guide is that the strip d is made parallel with the surface of the shield d, and this makes the lower edge of thespring-plate also parallel with the edge of the shield at the point where the two touch each other. The plaits or folds of the fabric will by this arrangement be kept smoothly down on the shield and pressed by the spring f, so that the stitching will be straight and uniform. 7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A sewing-machine guide constructed substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

JEPTHA A. WAGENER.

Witnesses ABRAHAM MOORE, E. EVANS, Jr. 

